See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

Panic disorder, panic attacks, depression, anxiety. If you ask me, its all the same and all linked together somehow. I've had panic attacks for 10 years, Been on medication from Celexa, to Prozac, to currently Zoloft. I have also been prescribed Advant for "in case of emergencies." I have had them lying in bed, playing a video game, driving my car, sitting in class at college, or just sitting quietly watching a movie or show. The first major one I had a few years ago, started out with me getting up in the middle of the night to untie my dog from around a tree. Her chain was wrapped around it and she wasn't listening to me because she was excited to see me and decided to wrap the chain around me. Of course I was getting upset, which made my heart start beating faster. When I finally got her untied, I went back upstairs to go back to sleep. All of a sudden I tasted the most awful irony taste in my mouth, like it was full of blood and started to freak. Then my heart felt like it was on fire and my heart was racing a million miles an hour. I was living with my Dad at the time and at 2 in the morning, I burst into his bedroom pacing back and forth saying, "Dad! I have to go to the hospital! I have to go now! I feel like I am having a heart attack!" He called the ambulance and when they checked my bmp's, it was at 180. The medical person said it was like I just got done running a marathon, plus I was burning up. He was coaxing me to calm down to lower my heart rate, which was working. Then after a few seconds, my heart would feel on fire again and up went my heart rate. It did this several times. The ambulance took me to the hospital were I was having them less frequently on the way to the hospital. I didn't remember much from the ambulance to the hospital bed but I remember them giving me a half milligram of Advant and I calmed down immediately. They ran 4 EKG tests on me and said everything was fine and sent me home. I haven't had any as bad as that one since but they come pretty close.

I am currently on 50mg of Zoloft now, but still keep having these awful panic attacks. I am pretty much fed up with them and I am tired of having them. I am having them every day now. I know that some events trigger panic attacks, and I think I know what triggers mine. I have a fear of dying. So anytime something feels off with my body, I start to have a panic attack. I know that once I have a panic attack, I start to feel phobic and feel as if I am having a hard time breathing which makes it even worse. Then I have to get up, walk around, and do something that will keep my mind off of it. I am getting to the point of being so upset about these panic attacks and I know they can not be good on your health. Why aren't these medications working? Why can't I just switch these panic attacks off. Its not like I am in any danger at all. I just want them to go away and never come back...EVER!!

Thanks for your Reply!

1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Dealing with panic attacks for over 10 years, even on medicationPanic disorder, panic attacks, depression, anxiety. If you ask me, its all the same and all linked together somehow. I've had panic attacks for 10 years, Been on medication from Celexa, to Prozac, to currently Zoloft. I have also been prescribed Advant for "in case of emergencies." I have had them lying in bed, playing a video game, driving my car, sitting in class at college, or just sitting quietly watching a movie or show. The first major one I had a few years ago, started out with me getting up in the middle of the night to untie my dog from around a tree. Her chain was wrapped around it and she wasn't listening to me because she was excited to see me and decided to wrap the chain around me. Of course I was getting upset, which made my heart start beating faster. When I finally got her untied, I went back upstairs to go back to sleep. All of a sudden I tasted the most awful irony taste in my mouth, like it was full of blood and started to freak. Then my heart felt like it was on fire and my heart was racing a million miles an hour. I was living with my Dad at the time and at 2 in the morning, I burst into his bedroom pacing back and forth saying, "Dad! I have to go to the hospital! I have to go now! I feel like I am having a heart attack!" He called the ambulance and when they checked my bmp's, it was at 180. The medical person said it was like I just got done running a marathon, plus I was burning up. He was coaxing me to calm down to lower my heart rate, which was working. Then after a few seconds, my heart would feel on fire again and up went my heart rate. It did this several times. The ambulance took me to the hospital were I was having them less frequently on the way to the hospital. I didn't remember much from the ambulance to the hospital bed but I remember them giving me a half milligram of Advant and I calmed down immediately. They ran 4 EKG tests on me and said everything was fine and sent me home. I haven't had any as bad as that one since but they come pretty close.

I am currently on 50mg of Zoloft now, but still keep having these awful panic attacks. I am pretty much fed up with them and I am tired of having them. I am having them every day now. I know that some events trigger panic attacks, and I think I know what triggers mine. I have a fear of dying. So anytime something feels off with my body, I start to have a panic attack. I know that once I have a panic attack, I start to feel phobic and feel as if I am having a hard time breathing which makes it even worse. Then I have to get up, walk around, and do something that will keep my mind off of it. I am getting to the point of being so upset about these panic attacks and I know they can not be good on your health. Why aren't these medications working? Why can't I just switch these panic attacks off. Its not like I am in any danger at all. I just want them to go away and never come back...EVER!!

I just started having panic attacks a few months ago after years of anxiety. I have done tons of research and am now taking Inositol 600mg once a day. It is a B vitamin and available online. I also take Holy Basil and Lemon Balm. The Inositol seems to be working pretty good. My panic attacks are much less severe and have reduced in frequency also. I have reduced my Klonopin to 1/4 of a .5mg at night only and keep the sub lingual tablets also to take in case I feel like I might be starting to have an attack. When I go to bed I play games on my phone until I am really sleepy and usually do Ok. I am only having panic feelings when I lie down at night now, so playing the games keeps my mind busy until I go to sleep. I am fine when my husband is home and do not have panic attacks, it is only when he is out of town (which is frequent) that I have the attacks. Calling a friend or family member helps also. If it is too late at night I just pray and that helps calm me too. I do not feel like the antidepressants work very well if at all. Try the natural route and see if that helps. There was a study done using Inositol in one group and antidepressants in another group and the Inositol group had less panic attacks than the group on antidepressants so it's not a fluke. I just hate that doctors know nothing about this and only prescribe pharmaceuticals instead of correcting the imbalance of vitamins, minerals and hormones in our bodies. There are other herbs, minerals etc. that are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, but the Inositol seems to be the key for me. Hope this helps!

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Dealing with panic attacks for over 10 years, even on medicationI just started having panic attacks a few months ago after years of anxiety. I have done tons of research and am now taking Inositol 600mg once a day. It is a B vitamin and available online. I also take Holy Basil and Lemon Balm. The Inositol seems to be working pretty good. My panic attacks are much less severe and have reduced in frequency also. I have reduced my Klonopin to 1/4 of a .5mg at night only and keep the sub lingual tablets also to take in case I feel like I might be starting to have an attack. When I go to bed I play games on my phone until I am really sleepy and usually do Ok. I am only having panic feelings when I lie down at night now, so playing the games keeps my mind busy until I go to sleep. I am fine when my husband is home and do not have panic attacks, it is only when he is out of town (which is frequent) that I have the attacks. Calling a friend or family member helps also. If it is too late at night I just pray and that helps calm me too. I do not feel like the antidepressants work very well if at all. Try the natural route and see if that helps. There was a study done using Inositol in one group and antidepressants in another group and the Inositol group had less panic attacks than the group on antidepressants so it's not a fluke. I just hate that doctors know nothing about this and only prescribe pharmaceuticals instead of correcting the imbalance of vitamins, minerals and hormones in our bodies. There are other herbs, minerals etc. that are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, but the Inositol seems to be the key for me. Hope this helps!

Related Drug Reviews

Report Problems With Your Medications to the FDA

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.